Shadow Born: Book 1 of the Shadow-Borne Chronicles Read Online Free Page B

felt the difference in the air as he walked out of the humid night and into the air-conditioned building.   He walked quietly through the silent hallway looking for room 1013.   The only sounds he could hear were the taps of his shoes on the blue and white striped linoleum floor and a fluorescent light that kept flickering on and off, making a quiet little buzzing sound.   He found his room, checked his watch, and found he was thirty minutes early.   Peeking into the classroom he saw it was empty so he went in and took a seat waiting for the rest of the class and the professor to arrive.
    After a few more minutes, students began wondering in either singly or in pairs and found places to sit.   Some sat with their heads together talking quietly and some were too caught up in their music or texts to pay anyone else any attention.   The room was starting to fill up quickly and very few seats were left.   When he turned to look to his right, he saw a young dark haired man had taken the only empty seat that had been close to his.  
    After a few more minutes the professor walked in with his brief case in one hand and a cup of coffee occupying the other.   He was probably in his forties and had on baggy trousers held up by suspenders and was wearing a brown and white striped button up.   He introduced himself as Professor John H. Laurence and wrote the words HISTORY 101 on the dry erase board and started talking.
    After explaining the basics of the class, how the grading system worked and what he expected, he brought out the class roster and called roll.   When he got to Alec’s name everyone in the class turned to look at him like he was some sort of exotic zoo animal and started whispering to each other excitedly.   The only one not staring openly was the young man to his right.   Alec blushed, dropped his head and said ‘Here,’ but the professor focused on Alec and forgot about the roll call in his hands.
    “Is there a problem I should be aware of Mr. Carson?”
    “No, sir,” Alec answered not meeting his eyes.
    “Then why do my students seem to be focused on you instead of me?”   He didn’t ask it in a mean way but asked it as if Alec could answer in some significant way that would make him go ‘Ahhhhh, now I get it’.
    Alec barely shrugged his shoulders, embarrassed by all the attention.   This was exactly what Alec had wanted to avoid.   The professor stood there a moment longer then addressed the class.   “Can anyone tell me why Mr. Carson attracts such attention?”
    A young blonde girl in the back raised her hand immediately and waved it around.   The professor rolled his eyes and said “Yes?” very politely.  
    The girl giggled and then said, “He’s been on television recently.   He’s the dude that survived the crazy Devil-worshiping lady.   He’s kinda cute,” she said in a loud whisper to her friend.   The young man sitting behind her scowled in Alec’s direction.
    Alec blushed down to the soles of his feet.   He’d never been called cute and certainly not by someone in front of a room full of people.   His face was on fire and he felt like he would burst into flames at any second.   It was horrible.
    “Ah,” the professor said and looked at Alec more closely.   “So it is.” With the roll still in hand he walked around his desk to stand in front of the class.  
    “I believe that Mr. Carson does not enjoy the notoriety in which his present status has placed him and that he is embarrassed by being the focus.   So why don’t we instead turn our attention to history and allow Mr. Carson some time to just be a normal student like the rest of you.   Yes?”   And with that the professor went back to calling the roll and class started.
    Midway through the long class, the professor allowed them a break to stand up, stretch or visit the bathroom.   Alec stood up and stretched his back muscles out.   It had been awhile since he had sat in one place for so long and he